COUNTY AGENCY BUYS BUILDING, IGNORING NEW BID REQUIREMENTS

A Broward County agency bought a downtown Fort Lauderdale office building for $1.5 million on Tuesday, but ignored new rules requiring bids from other landlords.

County commissioners last year demanded bids, staff study and two appraisals when buying property. The new rules were adopted after commissioners were slammed for paying $2 million to four politically connected investors for an aging Oakland Park building that had been appraised as low as $900,000.

On Tuesday, County Commissioner Lori Parrish said the county's Housing Finance Authority should have shopped around before buying City Park Plaza, 110 NE Third St., from lawyer Mark Schecter.

"I'm not going to vote for any more buildings that the whole world has not had a chance to bid on," said Parrish, who cast the lone opposing vote.

County officials said the quasi-governmental housing agency does not fall under the new rules. Executive Director Lennard Robinson said he skipped getting bids to save time.

Tom McDonald, an agency board member, said he favored buying a less extravagant building several miles west of downtown Fort Lauderdale. But officials said the agency needs to be near the county's downtown headquarters.

Two appraisals done for a bank found the five-year-old building and its adjoining vacant lot were worth the $1.5 million.

The agency, which finances affordable housing projects, has leased an office there for four years and now needs half of the 12,400 square feet.

Several commissioners had earlier questioned buying more space than needed, plus vacant land.

But county Finance Director Phil Allen promised that other county offices or nonprofit groups would fill the building. The land could house an addition.